Wheel-direction indicator.



H. LEAP.

. WHEEL DIRECTION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.31, 1914.

1,165,186. Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IN EN'LOR 15 60 119 leap,

H. LEAP.

WHEEL DIRECTION- INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.31.1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 1,165,186. Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

M I Haw/y Zea J TED. STATES PATENT/OFFICE.

'EARBY LEAP, on cAMP mnnxnn, CALIFORNIA.

WHEEL-DIRECTION INDICKTQB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Dee.21,1915.

pointing when starting up and moving away.

from a diflicult place or position where considerable maneuvering 1s necessary, or

when a foot or two in the wrong direction may prove more or less disastrous. Similar difficulties are also encountered where heavy .sand or mud has to be contended with.

The object of the present invention is to overcome this difliculty by providing a simple form of wheel direction indicator for automobiles, which is adapted to be placed in a position within convenient. and constant view of the driver, and to provide a connection between the indicator and the steering mechanism of the automobile whereby every movementof the steering mechanism will be directly transmitted to'the indicator, thus indicating at all times the position of the front wheels. I

Further objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the partsand' the combination and construction of parts as hereinafter more fully described. and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a car showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2- is a perspective detail view of the connection formed between. the indicator and the steering mechanism.

A indicates in general a car, 2 the front wheels and 3 the standard form' of steering knuckles which are connected by the tie rod 4. g

Suitably secured on top of one of the mud guards 5, is a flanged bearing member 6 and turnably mounted in same is ash'aft 7 which projects down through the mud guard. se- 7 cured on the upper end of-said shaft is anarrow or direction indicator 8, and securedto the lower end of the shaft, just belowthe mud guard, is a crank arm 9. This crank arm is adapted to turn the shaft upon which the direction indicator or arrow 8 is mounted by thev following connections formed between same and the steering mechanism. Suitably secured to the tie rod 4 at one end, as at 10, and on the other end to the crank arm, as at 11, is a flexible cable 12. This cable passes over direction pulleys 13 and 14, which are placed in suitable positions to give the cable the necessary and desired direction. The other side of the crank arm is connected to a coil spring 15, which has a tendency to normally pull the arm in the direction-of arrow a.

The operation will be as follows: Any movement of the steering knuckles, with con- ;nected tie rod 4, in the direction of arrow 6, will, in this instance be transmitted through the flexible cable'which passes over direction pulleys 13 and 14 to-the crank arm 9 and pull this in the direction of arrow 0, while movement of the tie rod in the oppo-.-

site direction to arrow 6 will permit the flexible cable to slacken and allow the tension of spring 15 to pull the crankarm in the direction of arrow at. The-vertical shaft 7 with connected direction indicator or arrow 8 is thus turned in both instances in unison with the steering mechanism and 'front wheels and will thus constantly indicate the position of same.

While I have here shown the indicating mechanism asbeing mounted on the mud guard, it is obvious that it may be mounted in any other suitable position, and that various connections between same and the steering mechanism may be provided without departing from the spirit of the invention. I 4 The materials and finish of the several parts of the device are such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate.

j Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is The combination with the front wheels,

steering knuckles and connected tie-rod on 'anautomobile, of a bearing member, a shaft turnably mounted in same, a crank arm secured on the, lower end of the shaft, an indicating pointer' on the'other end, a cable connected at one end with the tie rod and at the other With the crank arm to transmit the movement of the tie rod, direction pulleys over which the cable passes, and a coil spring connected with the crank arm.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HARRY LEAP. Witnesses:

JOHN H. HERRING, W. W. HEALEY. 

